Looking to get a first rifle

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ihaveworms

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I am looking to get my first rifle and don't want to spend a ton. I will just be target shooting with it. I have heard that the stevens 200 is really good value. I have seen that ammo normally runs quite a bit more on the internet than I can find in stores. Going by this logic, I was wondering how much do you think a stevens 200 in stores.

I also am going to need a scope for it. I have never looked into the prices of scopes and was fairly suprised how expensive they were. Are there any well known high value scopes out there that I could use on that rifle that are somewhere around $80-$130?

Oh, and I am looking at the .223 version of the stevens 200.
 
Yes, the Stevens 200 is a good model to look at. Check a gun shop for the price, they will be able to tell you. While you're at the gun shop or talking on the phone to someone at the gun shop, ask about the scope, you maybe able to find a scope in that range. Tasco or Bushnell.
 
Ebay, if you are careful, has Burris FFII 3-9 scopes for $150. May be able to get a bid on a Bushnell 3200 in that price range also. I personally have had good fortune with Swift scopes, but they seem to have gone up in price considerably recently.
 
The Stevens is a good gun. Sportsman's Warehouse used to have a lot of them, but I'm not sure any more.

Pretty soon someone is going to post on here that you should buy a Mosin Nagant. Please don't.
 
If it's truly your first rifle, I'd really recommend a .22 LR (rimfire) instead due to much cheaper practice.

If you want .223, my personal pick would be a Savage Model 25, which is probably going to be in the $400-500 range at a reasonable store.

Ammo is generally cheaper online than in stores if you know where to look, FYI. The major exceptions are common hunting calibers (like 30-30 and .270 Win) before hunting season, FMJ handgun ammo at Walmart, and inexpensive shotgun practice or dove loads. You can get OK deals on .223 in a store with luck, but almost always will do better buying from a place like AIM Surplus, Ammo to Go, or Ammoman.
 
Even though this is my first rifle, I have fired rifles quite a bit before including a .22LR. I just want something with a bit more kick and range. Oddly enough, I have seen ammo usually cheaper locally than online.
 
BSA is not known for quality scopes. Im pretty sure Leupold sells some scopes for around 150.
 
the best all around entry level scopes, for 150 or less, are proly going to be nikon, or pentax, and then I would throw in with a burris, if found in that
price range.
 
By the way, here is a quote I started, a few years ago, and am proud
to take the credit for it;
" If it says BSA, then run away...!"

Really, avoid BSA, unless someone gives you one, and even then, there is
nothing more frustrating than mounting a scope, that is allready Fubar'ed, and you can't tell just by looking through it. and you go through the time and hassle at the range to try and zero, ..." this really nice looking scope that someone
just gave to me..." and no matter what you do, and how long, many hours you stay there, the zero just keeps on drrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiifffffffffffffftinnnnnnnnnnggggg
ever so slowly.
 
If it is really for JUST target shooting, getting a Ruger 10/22, scope it, and live happily ever after.
 
I would also second the recommendations to get a .22LR.

You will be able to practice more, thus shoot better.

There are a ton of good inexpensive .22's out there.

If you do want a centerfire though, I think a Savage/Stevens is a great choice.
 
I have played with my grandfathers 10/22 quite a bit. So like I said, I want something with a bit more kick/range. Alright I will look at something other than BSA. Thanks for the heads up. Also how is Fiocchi ammo just for shooting at targets. I saw that it was fairly inexpensive.
 
I know you said you wanted something with a little more kick and range than a .22lr. I own and really like .223 but they can be expensive to shoot with good ammo if you don't reload. Have you thought about a .17hmr? Good Hornady ammo is around $12 for 50. I have a Savage 93r17btvs and it's very accurate and fun to shoot. I would recommend a heavy barrel bolt action savage with the accutrigger.
http://www.savagearms.com/93r17fv.htm

For a good quality but cheap scope I think it would be hard to find one better than a Nikon prostaff 3x9x40 for $150.
 
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Fiocchi ammo is fine.

I'd echo the suggestions of Nikon, Pentax and to some extent Burris, Weaver and Bushnell in the lower priced but decent quality scope range. Very little of any quality under $100 (and I'm sure someone will say under $300). A fixed 4x or 6x scope, like those from Weaver and Leupold, would get you better optics for less money if you're happy with fixed power.
 
I got a couple of Stevens 200 for truck guns, .22-250 and 7-08, both tack drivers. save some money by buying one, put good optics on it and later on step up to a Remingon or even a Savage, they really make good quality guns now, no longer a joke to own a Savage.
 
I have another question for you all. I called around all the dealers around me and only one of them had one in stock. It was one with a camo stock. I'm not crazy about camo, but don't hate it either. I personally would like to have a black stock, but it doesn't come in that. I know they have one in gray, but I am not a huge fan of that either.

I went over to the shop and the camo one wasn't that bad after looking at it. Later on, would it be possible to use that krylon gun stock paint to paint it black? My concern is that if I paint it black, the impression of the camo may still "leak" through. Would it do that if I used 2-4 coats?
 
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I'm not a painting expert, but if you paint over the camo with primer and then use a black topcoat, I think you'd be fine.
 
Well Krs, I already went out and got it Saturday. Happy having my first rifle :D. I also ordered a Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40 and it should ship out Monday.

stevensb.jpg
 
Alright you have a nice set up now be sure to get good rings and a sturdy base. Don't forget to pick up some locktite.


That camo stock looks pretty good I don't think I would paint it.
 
Yeah I was going to ask about the rings. I don't need something that will stand up to being dropped out of a helicopter. What makes good rings good? I don't see how there could be that much of a difference.

I am completely new to the whole scope thing, so what determines the height from the gun to the scope? Is it the base or the rings? I asked the guy at to shop about what I should do to make sure that when I raise the bolt up, it wouldn't hit the scope. He said getting medium rings would be good. I assume he is talking about medium height?

I was looking at this thread: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=292607 and saw one guy got the round base at walmart for $8.00. Is there anything wrong with that? Would it be better to get a two piece base so that I don't have this bar of metal going over where the bolt is?

Looking online, I am getting confused on what kind of base to get and if certain rings will only fit certain bases. Also, what says a certain ring size will fit my scope?
 
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Go with medium rings. You'll want to get good rings and bases. They are worth the money in the long run. I like Burris bases, but Leupold are considered some of the best.
 
Skimping on rings is just like skimping on your scope. With cheap rings you may still end up with a drifting zero, and nobody wants that. Not only that but cheap rings could also damage scopes if not properly lapped. I rifle is def more of an investment than just the rifle and one should always figure the whole package before you break the bank. Buy good rings!
 
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